Diffuser for air conditioning



March 12, 1957 w, g, 35 00 ETAL 2,784,659

DIFFUSER FOR AIR CONDITIONING Filed NOV. 24, 1951 INV TORS. WILLIAM C.085%0 PAUL D. WINCHESTER ALFRED E. KIETZMANN United States Patent FDIFFUSER FOR AIR CONDITIONING William C. De R00, Paul D. Winchester, andAlfred E. Kietzmann, Holland, Micln, assignors to Hart & CooleyManufacturing (30., Holland, Mich, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationNovember 24, 1951, Serial No. 258,014

5 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates in general to a noveldesign of register or air diffuser to be located in the walls orceilings of enclosed areas such as the rooms in a residence. Althoughthe prime purpose of the invention is for the perimeter heating of sucha room, it will be obvious that the invention is equally applicable forthe cooling or air conditioning of areas, and wherever heating or perim-4 from the wall. In some cases the tins of the register may be set todirect the air straight outwardly from the wall.

This type of register in general has been used for many years inconnection with forced air systems where the air ducts were inserted inthe inside walls of the structure and the air was projected towardoutside walls. Such registers were mounted either in the baseboard or onthe inside wall just above the baseboard or near the ceiling.

The advent of basementless structures brought with it a new phase ofheating which taught that registers placed close to the outside wallsgive much more comfort than the use of the conven-tional types ofregisters located on the inside walls of the structure. With this inmind it was found necessary and desirable to develop a wall register orair diffuser which was so designed as to blanket the outside wall with acurtain of air in a manner similar to the results accomplished by theuse of a conventional floor type register which is usually located aboutsix inches away from the outside wall in the floor. The floor registerprojects the air upwardly into the room parallel with the outside walland in a fan-shaped pattern which effectually sets up a curtain of airbetween the occupied space and the outside wall.

Wall or floor registers are usually considered as having directionalfins which direct air passing therebetween into the room in a directionaway from the register and at an angle with respect thereto. The problemhere was to design a side wall register which, instead of directing theair outwardly into the room in a direction away from the wall, wouldcause the air to emerge from the register and pass upwardly parallel tothe Wall and which would cause the air to fan outwardly to effectuallyblanket the wall with a curtain of air between the occupied space andthe outside wall. Since registers customarily act as directionalgrilles, the present invention has been termed an air diffuser becauseof its action in diffusing the air over the wall area rather thandirecting the air outwardly into.

present invention is designed primarily to accomplish the ice result ofdirecting the air as a blanket adjacent the wall throughoutsubstantially and at the same time is designed to appeal to the eye.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide an air diffuser of such design as to cause airemerging therefrom to form an air curtain blanketing the wall in whichthe diffuser-is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air diffuser which hasa plurality of groups of fins therein so designed and arranged that whenthe diffuser is mounted in a wall, some of the air passing therethroughwill form an air curtain blanketing the wall throughout substantially180 and other portions of the air passing therethrough will be directeddownwardly toward the floor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wall air diffuser forperimeter heating of a room which has therein a plurality of groups offins wherein at least least some of the fins are longitudinally arcuateand are so combined with and are located with respect to the fins inother groups that the air passing between the various fins will blendand provide an air curtain which blankets the wall in which the diffuseris mounted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wall air diffuserfor perimeter heating wherein opposed groups of longitudinally arcuatefins are located to the i right and left of the center of the diffuserand which blend with a group of other fins of the upper portion in thediffuser in such a manner that air passing between the fins in eachgroup will blend together and form air curtain which blankets the wallinwhich the diffuser is mounted.

Still another and more specific object of the invention is to provide awall air diffuser whereina plurality of supporting and dividing bars ormullions extend radially outwardly from a common support in the face ofthe diffuser dividing the face into a plurality of sections and whereinthe opposed end sections have a plurality of longitudinally arcuate finssupported at their ends by adjacent bars and fan outwardly from a commoncenter for each section. Substantially straight fins are provided in theupper part of the diffuser in a section between the sections containingthe arcuate fins and which blend with the arcuate fins to present aneye-appealing structure as well as one wherein the airpassingtherethrough will blend and blanket the wall in a curtaining effect,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an air diffuser embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken along the planeof line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane ofline 5-5 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating in detaila portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5; and

Patented Mar. 12, 1957.

a encies ing the wall rather than one which would direct the air intothe room in an angular direction away from the wall. While somevariations from the structure disclosed herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, it has been discovered thatcertain features of the design as illustrated here are necessary. Forexample, it is necessary that the fins in each side of the diffuserwhich are located in the end sections on each side of the center thereofshould be longitudinally arcuate and should increase inlengthprogre'ssively outwardly from their center of curvature infan-shaped fashion.

It;was discovered also that the fins in the upper section of thediffuser need not necessarily be straight, as shown herein, but could belongitudinally curved somewhat, although, when curved to anexcessivedegree, the blending of the emerging air in the desired manner to forman air curtain blanketingthe wall was not obtained throughout the entire180 are necessary.

Another important feature is that the air passages between adjacent finsshould be unobstructed to maintain maximum efficiency. In some registeror grille structures the fins are stamped out of a sheet of metal and alip is allowed to remain in the face of the diffuser which lip acts asan obstruction to the air passing through and prevents it from beingdiffused and distributed along the wall area.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, and especially to Fig.1, the air diffuser of the present invention is indicated generally bythe numeral 1. All of the fins are stamped from a sheet of metal so thatthey are disposed within an integral metal frame preferably, though notnecessarily, rectangular as indicated by the numeral 2. A plurality ofsupporting and dividing bars or mullions radiate outwardly fromapproximately a common center, and there may be any number of such barsprovided there are not enough to prevent the desired result.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated four such supporting and dividing barsindicated at 3, 4, 5, and 6. These bars all radiate outwardly from acenter plate 7 integral therewith. The size and shape of the centersupporting plate 7 and its location in the plane of the diffuser are notimportant considerations although it should be in the vicinity of thecenter of the diffuser to obtain the proper results. I The radiallyextending, dividing, and supporting bars 3, 4, 5 and 6 divide the areawithin the frame 2 into a plurality of sections. In the particularembodiment shown there is an upper central section 8, opposed endsections 9 and 10 and a smaller section 11 in the center and at thebottom. Each of the end sections 9 and 10 has a plurality oflongitudinally arcuate fins or vanes 12 and 13 therein all of the finsin each section having a common center of curvature and extending inspaced relation outwardly fromthe central supporting plate 7 insubstantially fan-shaped fashion. The fins 12 and 13 are all stamped outof the sheet metal member 1 in such a manner as to be severed at their.ends almost completely from the sheet metal member. The fins are allsubstantially parallel with each other and extend at an angle outwardlywith respect to the plane of the frame at an angle of approximately 45degrees.

It is important to note that when the fins are severed as above noted,and bent angularly there is no lip or flange extending along either edgeof the fins so that the space between each fin through which the airpasses is completely unobstructed from one end to the other.

Each fin is longitudinally arcuate and with the location of the centralplate 7 as shown in Fig. l, the majority of the fins will be connectedat their upper ends to the radially extending arms 3 and 4. The lowerend of outer corners of the. area within the frame, such as thoseindicated at 14 and 15, will be connected at their ends between theadjacent sides of the frame itself.

Although it has been stated that the fins 12 and 13 should be disposedat an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the plane of thediffuser, that angle is not critical except within certain limits. Ingeneral, it may be said that this angle can be from 45 degrees to 50degrees and still obtain satisfactory results.

An important consideration, however, is that the passage betweenadjacent fins through which air passes outwardly into the room should belonger than it is wide. Since there is no metal left on the edge of thefin from where it is stamped out of the plate to form a flange or lip,the width of each fin is substantially the same as the distance betweenadjacent fins; that is to say, if the distance between adjacent fins isA as shown in Fig. 3 that distance will be substantially equal to thewidth B of each fin. However, the perpendicular distance C between thefins will be less than either A or B when the fins are disposed at anangle as shown thereby providing a completely unobstructed passagebetween adjacent fins when it is longer than it is wide.

The upper central section 8 is provided with a plurality of fins 16connected at their ends to the radial arms 3 and 4 except for a few ofthe upper fins which are divided by an arm or mullion 17 having apierced slot 18 therein to accommodate the handle 19 for opening andclosing the register as will be pointed out more clearly hereinafter.The fins 16 in section 8 are of different length with the shortest finat the bottom and the longest one at the top and are substantiallystraight as distinguished from the curved fins in the end sections 9 and10. These fins 16 are likewise disposed at an angle of approximately 45degrees with respect to the plane of the diffuser for directing airupwardly. Also, the fins 16 being of different length appear asfanshaped from the center plate 7 outwardly and upwardly to the frame 2.

Like the fins previously described, the fins 16 also are stamped fromthe single sheet of metal in such a Way as to provide an unobstructedpassage between the fins for passage of air therethrough; that is tosay, there is no lip or flange left along either edge of these fins, aswill be clearly seen in Fig. 5.

With the foregoing construction and arrangement of fins, taking alsointo consideration the unobstructed passages between adjacent fins whichpassages are longer than they are wide, air passing therethrough willnot be directed outwardly into the room at an angle with respect to thewall or ceiling in which the diffuser is mounted, but, rather, willemerge from the dilfuser and will blanket the wall or ceiling in acurtaining effect by reason of a vacuum ring surrounding the diffuserthroughout substantially degrees. Experiments and smoke tests haveactually proven this to be a fact.

A further important consideration in obtaining this result is that thestraight fins 16 in the upper section 8 should be arranged so that theends thereof will meet the upper ends of the fins 12 and 13 in the endsections 9 and 10. This arrangement is clearly shown in Fig. l of thedrawing. As stated before, however, the most important consideration isto have the fins 12 and 13 in the end sections longitudinally arcuatewhile the contour of the fins 16 may be either straight as shown, orslightly curved.

The foregoing construction will provide a curtain of air which willblanket a wall or ceiling area around the diffuser rather than directingthe air outwardly into the .room at an angle with respect to the wall orceiling. -When the diffuser of the present invention is to be utilizedin the wall of a room, it may be additionally desired also to providefins 20 in the bottom section 11. These fins 20 are also preferablystraight and are connected at their ends between the radial bars 5 and 6although it is preferred that these fins 20 be disposed at an angle withrespect to the plane of the diffuser which is greater than the .45degrees or 50 degrees at which the other fins in the diffuser aredisposed. trated in Fig. 5. i i

Again the fins 20 are stamped from the single sheet of metal and providean unobstructed passage between adjacent fins but they are disposed atthis greater angle so that they will have a directional effect on theair and will direct the air outwardly away from the wall and somewhatdownwardly toward the floor.

The remaining structure of the diffuser as shown is common practice inthe art where a closure member 21 is mounted at the rear of the diffuseron which a handle member 19 is attached which extends forwardly throughthe slot 18 as previously mentioned. A strip 22 is secured along therear side of the metal plate near the upper part thereof which haselongated arcuate portion 23 adapted to receive a similar arcuateportion 24 along the upper edge of the closure member 21. The parts arearranged so that downward pressure on the handle 19 will pivot theclosure member 21 rearwardly to permit air to pass outwardly between thefins in the face of the diffuser.

A resilient rubberlike sealing gasket 25 may be located within therearwardly extending flange 26 around the edge of the frame and seal thediffuser against the wall or ceiling on which it is placed. A sin-allmetal stop 27 may be held in place at the rear of the diffuser by meansof a screw 28 which passes through the slot 18 and which may be adjustedlongitudinally of the slot to limit the downward movement of the handle19 when opening the closure member 21.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that a novel resulthas been obtained by the structure illustrated whereby air passingbetween the fins of the diffuser will be caused to form a blanket overthe wall or ceiling over which the diffuser is mounted instead of beingdirected outwardly into the room at an angle. The need for the inventionhas been occasioned by the relatively recent placement of registers inthe outside walls of homes. The air blankets the wall and forms acurtain between the outside wall and the occupants of a room. Thisresult has been obtained primarily because of the angular disposition ofthe fins and the unobstructed passages which are longer than they arewide, together with the curved or longitudinally arcuate design of thefins in the end sections.

These oppositely disposed groups of arcuate fins may vary in number andlength to the point where the upper section 8 is substantially disposedof entirely. It has been found by actual experiment, however, that thedesign illustrated herein is preferable and achieves the resultsdesired.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of partsfrom those disclosed herein Without in any way departing from the spiritof the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof,provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope of the claimsappended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An air diffuser for conditioning a room, comprising a substantiallyrectangular frame, oppositely disposed and spaced groups oflongitudinally arcuate fins adjacent the ends of said frame, the arcuatefins in each group having a common center of curvature and fanningradially outwardly therefrom, another group of substantially straightfins occupying a portion of the space between the upper terminal ends ofsaid groups of arcuate fins, all of the fins in each group beingsubstantially parallel to each other and each fin in each group beingspaced from the other to form an unobstructed passage between adjacentfins, the fins in said oppositely disposed groups extending rearwardlyfrom the face of said frame and inwardly toward the center thereof andextending at such an angle with respect to the plane of the frame thatthe perpendicular distance between adjacent fins is less than the widthof a fin, and the substantially straight This is also illusfinsextending rearwardly and downwardly, whereby air passing outwardlybetween the fins of each group will blend and form an air curtainblanketing the wall in which the diffuser is mounted.

2. An air diffuser for conditioning a room, comprisin g a substantiallyrectangular frame, oppositely disposed and spaced groups oflongitudinally arcuate fins adjacent the ends of said frame, the arcuatefins in each group having a common center of curvature andfanningradially outwardly therefrom and some of said fins in each groupterminating at their lower ends at the lower marginal edge of 'saidframe, another group of substantially straight fins occupying a portionof the space between the upper terminal ends of said groups of arcuatefins, all of the fins in each group being substantially parallel to eachother and each fin in each group being spaced from the other'to form anunobstructedpassage between adjacent fins, the fins in said oppositelydisposed groups extending rearwardly from the face of said frame andinwardly toward the center thereof and extending at such an angle withrespect to the plane of the frame that the perpendicular distancebetween adjacent fins is less than the width of a fin, and thesubstantially straight fins extending rearwardly and downwardly, wherebyair passing outwardly between the fins of each group will blend and forman air curtain blanketing the wall in which the diffuser is mounted.

3. An air diffuser for conditioning a room, comprising a substantiallyrectangular frame, oppositely disposed and spaced groups oflongitudinally arcuate fins adjacent the ends of said frame, the arcuatefins in each group having a common center of curvature and fanningradially outwardly therefrom and some of said fins in each groupterminating at their upper ends at the upper marginal edge of saidframe, another group of substantially straight fins occupying a portionof the space between the upper terminal ends of said groups of arcuatefins, all of the fins in each group being substantially parallel to eachother and each fin in each group being spaced from the other to form anunobstructed passage between adjacent fins, the fins in said oppositelydisposed groups extending rearwardly from the face of said frame andinwardly toward the center thereof and extending at such an angle wthrespect to the plane of the frame that the perpendicular distancebetween adjacent fins is less than the width of a fin, and thesubstantially straight fins extending rearwardly and downwardly, wherebyair passing outwardly between the fins of each group will blend and forman air curtain blanketing the wall in which the diffuser is mounted.

4. An air diffuser for conditioning a room, comprising a substantiallyrectangular frame, oppositely disposed and spaced groups oflongitudinally arcuate fins adjacent the ends of said frame, the arcuatefins in each group having a common center of curvature and fanningradially outwardly therefrom and some of said fins in each groupterminating at their lower ends at the lower marginal edge of said frameand at their upper ends at the upper marginal edge of said frame,another group of substantially straight fins occupying a portion of thespace between the upper terminal ends of said groups of arcuate fins,all of the fins in each group being substantially parallel to each otherand each fin in each group being spaced from the other to form anunobstructed passage between adjacent fins, the fins in said oppositelydisposed groups extending rearwardly from the face of said frame andinwardly toward the center thereof and extending at such an angle withrespect to the plane of the frame that the perpendicular distancebetween adjacent fins is less than the width of a fin, and thesubstantially straight fins extending rearwardly and downwardly, wherebyair passing outwardly between the fins of each group will blend and forman air curtain blanketing the wall in which the diffuser is mounted.

5. An air diffuser for conditioning a room, compris- '7 ingasubstantially rectangular frame, oppositely disposed and spaced groupsof longitudinally arcuate .fins adjacent the ends of'said frame,.thearcuate fins in each group having a common center of curvature andfanning ra dially outwardly therefrom and some said fins in each groupterminating at their lower ends at the lower marginal edge of said frameand at their upper ends at the upper marginal edge of said frame,another group of substantially straight fins occupying a portion of thebase between the upper terminal ends of said groups of 10 disposedgroups extending rearwardly from the face of 15 said frame and inwardlytoward the center thereof and extending at such an angle with respect tothe plane of the frame that the perpendicular distance between adjacentfins is less than the width of a fin, and the substantially straightfinsextending rearwardly and downwardly, and a further group ofsubstantially straight fins in the lower portion of said frame extendingrearwardly and upwardly, whereby air passing outwardly between the finsof each group will blend and form an air'curtain blanketing the wall inwhich the diffuser is mounted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS De R00June 3, 1952

